Table 1.
Summary demographic data of patients studied
| Age | Mean 58 years |
| Sex | 4 male:3 female |
| Diagnosis | 4 medical:3 surgical |
| APACHE II (admission) | Mean 18 |
| APACHE II (study) | Mean 17 |
| Days in intensive care unit | Mean 7 days |
| Serum creatinine (μmol/l) | Mean 73 μmol |
| Plasma albumin(g/l) | Mean 23 g/l |
| Feed tolerant1 | 5 of 6 tolerant of EN |
| Inotropes | 1 patient on catecholamine infusion |
| Parenteral nutrition | 0 of 7 |
| Weight | Mean 84 kgs |
| Rate of insulin infusion when ceased2 | Mean 2.0 U/hour |
| Total insulin dose in previous 24 hours | Mean 57 U/24 hours |
All data refer to results from the first study day unless otherwise specified.
1 Patients are feed-tolerant if (over the preceding 24 hours): delivery of nutrient liquid is at the target rate (as determined by on-site dietician) and gastric residual volumes less were than 250 mL in any six-hour period.
2 The infusion rate at t = -120 minutes (i.e. when exogenous insulin ceased).
APACHE = Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation.